Food program takes students from farm to plate
Students at Phillips School are taking their farm-grown foods to the classroom with the opening of a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, the latest addition to the North Laurel school’s “vertical farm program.”
The special education school is part of the Maryland Association for Non-Public Special Education Facilities.
Created by KasCon, a Columbia-based homebuilder and general contractor, the commercial kitchen is designed to familiarize students with the atmosphere of restaurants, food service and catering.
Through the vertical farm program, students learn to grow different foods which they can prepare in the kitchen, such as herbs, microgreens and produce. Fifteen students are currently enrolled in the farm program, officials said, with enrollment expected to increase annually. The program focuses on hydroponic and other farming operations.
The school’s farm is capable of growing tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and a variety of microgreens, said Piper Phillips Caswell, CEO of Phillips Programs for Children and Families.
“It’s pretty amazing [and] a very exciting venture,” Caswell said. “The kids can go into the culinary arts program and earn industry certification if they have an interest in using that as a steppingstone into employment or further education. They will be also developing marketing around the micro greens and sell them to caterers, restaurants and markets.”
Caswell said portions of the home-grown produce will be donated to local food banks as well.
The school serves students ages 5 to 22 who have special needs and emotional and behavioral health challenges. Students are referred to Phillips by school systems in Howard, Prince George’s and Montgomery counties and Washington.
Agrand opening of the kitchen was held Nov. 15, which coincided with Phillips’ 50th anniversary. State Sen. Guy Guzzone, Del.
Frank Turner, Howard County Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Leonardo McClarty and KasCon president Jeff Kassman attended the event.
Caswell said the new kitchen is just the beginning for the program.
“We’re in the early stages of a vision of bringing more employment opportunities,” she said. “We envision expanding this program into workforce development. To be able to grow produce and learn about sustainability, food deserts and nutrition, we’re on the cusp of an ever-growing movement.”
The school launched its $1million capital campaign to support the construction costs and operation of the commercial kitchen and farm.
Improvements to drain near Derby Drive planned County officials say a construction project to improve a storm drain along Derby Drive in Laurel is expected to begin Monday. Crews will use rock structures to stabilize the outfall, which is on a tributary to the Middle Patuxent River. The project is part of continuing county restorations designed to improve water quality.
The project is expected to be completed by late December. Traffic will not be affected, but the grass walking path from the end of Churchill Wayto Gorman Stream Valley Park will be closed.
For information, contact Lisa Brightwell at 410-313-3440 or publicworks@howardcountymd.gov.
—Andrew Michaels County to host budget overview hearing Dec. 11 Howard County Executive Allan H.
Kittleman’s first citizens’ budget hearing to discuss the fiscal 2019 budget cycle will be held Monday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. in the George Howard Building in Ellicott City.
Residents interested in speaking at the hearing can sign up online or submit written testimony online — any online testimony is deemed public information under the Maryland Public Information Act.
For information, contact the budget office at 410-313-2077.
—Andrew Michaels
The special education school is part of the Maryland Association for Non-Public Special Education Facilities.
Created by KasCon, a Columbia-based homebuilder and general contractor, the commercial kitchen is designed to familiarize students with the atmosphere of restaurants, food service and catering.
Through the vertical farm program, students learn to grow different foods which they can prepare in the kitchen, such as herbs, microgreens and produce. Fifteen students are currently enrolled in the farm program, officials said, with enrollment expected to increase annually. The program focuses on hydroponic and other farming operations.
The school’s farm is capable of growing tomatoes, peppers, lettuce and a variety of microgreens, said Piper Phillips Caswell, CEO of Phillips Programs for Children and Families.
“It’s pretty amazing [and] a very exciting venture,” Caswell said. “The kids can go into the culinary arts program and earn industry certification if they have an interest in using that as a steppingstone into employment or further education. They will be also developing marketing around the micro greens and sell them to caterers, restaurants and markets.”
Caswell said portions of the home-grown produce will be donated to local food banks as well.
The school serves students ages 5 to 22 who have special needs and emotional and behavioral health challenges. Students are referred to Phillips by school systems in Howard, Prince George’s and Montgomery counties and Washington.
Agrand opening of the kitchen was held Nov. 15, which coincided with Phillips’ 50th anniversary. State Sen. Guy Guzzone, Del.
Frank Turner, Howard County Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Leonardo McClarty and KasCon president Jeff Kassman attended the event.
Caswell said the new kitchen is just the beginning for the program.
“We’re in the early stages of a vision of bringing more employment opportunities,” she said. “We envision expanding this program into workforce development. To be able to grow produce and learn about sustainability, food deserts and nutrition, we’re on the cusp of an ever-growing movement.”
The school launched its $1million capital campaign to support the construction costs and operation of the commercial kitchen and farm.
Improvements to drain near Derby Drive planned County officials say a construction project to improve a storm drain along Derby Drive in Laurel is expected to begin Monday. Crews will use rock structures to stabilize the outfall, which is on a tributary to the Middle Patuxent River. The project is part of continuing county restorations designed to improve water quality.
The project is expected to be completed by late December. Traffic will not be affected, but the grass walking path from the end of Churchill Wayto Gorman Stream Valley Park will be closed.
For information, contact Lisa Brightwell at 410-313-3440 or publicworks@howardcountymd.gov.
—Andrew Michaels County to host budget overview hearing Dec. 11 Howard County Executive Allan H.
Kittleman’s first citizens’ budget hearing to discuss the fiscal 2019 budget cycle will be held Monday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. in the George Howard Building in Ellicott City.
Residents interested in speaking at the hearing can sign up online or submit written testimony online — any online testimony is deemed public information under the Maryland Public Information Act.
For information, contact the budget office at 410-313-2077.
—Andrew Michaels
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